Indoor/outdoor interlocking deck tile device

ABSTRACT

A deck tile device includes a base support member having one or more barrels each having a hub extended upwardly from a bottom wall and spaced from the barrel for forming an annular space between the barrel and the hub and having one or more slots formed in the hub for forming one or more spring blade, and one or more deck tile members each having one or more stems for engaging with the bores of the hubs and for coupling the deck tile members to the base support member, and the stem includes an enlarged head for engaging with the hub and for easily and quickly securing the deck tile members to the base support member without additional fasteners and tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an indoor/outdoor interlocking decktile device, and more particularly to an indoor/outdoor deck tile deviceincluding a number deck tile members that may be easily and quicklyassembled together or secured to a base support member to form variouskinds of shapes or patterns without additional fasteners and tools.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical indoor/outdoor deck tile devices comprise a non-absorbent tilemember having a non-slip bottom surface and a channeled bottom surfaceand a plurality of drain holes through the pad to permit water to drainthrough the pad to the channels in the bottom surface of the pad andinto the drain of the deck.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,044 to Clark discloses one of thetypical shower and bath mats or deck tile devices comprising a matmember also having a number of drain holes formed through the pad forallowing the water to drain through the pad and then to flow into theshower or bath drain.

However, the single deck tile member may not be changed to differentshapes or patterns, and may not be assembled or secured to the otherdeck tile members.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,779 to Lindholm discloses another typical shower andbath mat or deck tile device also comprising a single mat member havinga number of suction cups provided in the bottom surface for solidlyengaging or anchoring to the floor, and having a number of nodulesextended upwardly from the upper portion of the mat member foranti-slipping purposes.

However, similarly, the single deck tile member may not be changed todifferent shapes or patterns, and may not be assembled or secured to theother deck tile members.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate theafore-described disadvantages of the conventional decks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide anindoor/outdoor interlocking deck tile device including a number of decktile members that may be easily and quickly assembled together orsecured to a base support member to form various kinds of shapes orpatterns without additional fasteners and tools.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a decktile device comprising a base support member including at least onebarrel having a hub extended upwardly from a bottom wall and spaced fromthe barrel for forming an annular space between the barrel and the huband for forming a bore in the hub, and including at least one slotformed in the hub for forming at least one spring blade in the hub, andat least one deck tile member including at least one stem extendedtherefrom for engaging with the bore of the hub and for coupling thedeck tile member to the base support member, and the stem including anenlarged head for engaging with the hub and for securing the deck tilemember to the base support member without additional fasteners andtools.

The deck tile member includes at least one fin extended from the stem ofthe deck tile member for engaging with the slot of the hub and forpositioning the spring blade of the hub and for preventing the springblade from being moved.

The barrel includes a narrower neck portion formed in the hub forforming a peripheral shoulder in the hub and for engaging with theenlarged head of the stem and for anchoring the deck tile member to thebase support member.

The hub includes an inclined peripheral surface formed in an upperportion of the hub for engaging with the enlarged head of the stem andfor guiding the enlarged head of the stem into the bore of the hub.

One or more side members are further provided for securing to the basesupport member, the side members each include at least one protrusionextended therefrom and having a peg extended from the protrusion forengaging with the base support member and for anchoring or latching orsecuring the side member to the base support member.

The base support member includes at least one positioning hole formedtherein for engaging with the protrusion of the side member. The sidemember includes an ear extended from one side portion thereof and havinga pin extended from the ear for engaging with a second side member andfor coupling the side member and the second side member together.

One or more corner members may further be provided for engaging with thepin of the side member and for securing the corner members to the sidemember. The corner member includes a flap extended from one side portionthereof and having a shank extended from the flap for engaging with theside member and for securing to the side member.

The base support member includes at least one pin extended therefrom forengaging with a second base support member and for coupling the basesupport member and the second base support member together.

The second base support member includes at least one stud extendedtherefrom and having an orifice formed in the stud for engaging with thepin of the base support member and for securing the base support memberstogether.

The base support member includes a number of longitudinal ribs and anumber of lateral ribs coupled together for forming a number of jointportions, the barrel is attached to one of the joint portions of thebase support member.

The base support member includes at least one passage formed in one ofthe longitudinal ribs, and/or the base support member includes at leastone passage formed in one of the lateral ribs for water drainingpurposes. The deck tile member includes a number of grooves and a numberof beams formed therein for anti-slipping purposes.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a careful reading of the detailed description providedhereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of the indoor/outdoor interlockingdeck tile device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan schematic view of the indoor/outdoor interlockingdeck tile device;

FIG. 3 is another top plan schematic view of the indoor/outdoorinterlocking deck tile device having the side strips removed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial exploded view of indoor/outdoorinterlocking deck tile device;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the indoor/outdoorinterlocking deck tile device as shown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 are partial cross sectional views illustrating theassembling operation of the indoor/outdoor interlocking deck tiledevice;

FIGS. 9, 10, 11 are partial cross sectional views taken along lines 9-9,10-10, and 11-11 of FIG. 2 respectively;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating the dissemblingoperation of the indoor/outdoor interlocking deck tile device;

FIG. 13 is a top plan schematic view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating theother arrangement of the indoor/outdoor interlocking deck tile device

FIG. 14 is a partial exploded view of indoor/outdoor interlocking decktile device as shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines 15-15 ofFIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a further top plan schematic view similar to FIGS. 3 and 13illustrating the further arrangement of the indoor/outdoor interlockingdeck tile device;

FIG. 17 is a still further top plan schematic view similar to FIGS. 3,13 and 16 illustrating the still further arrangement of theindoor/outdoor interlocking deck tile device; and

FIGS. 18, 19, 20 are still further top plan schematic views similar toFIGS. 3, 13 and 16-17 illustrating the still further arrangement of theindoor/outdoor interlocking deck tile device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, an indoor/outdoorinterlocking deck tile device in accordance with the present inventioncomprises a base support member 10 including a number of longitudinalribs 11 and a number of lateral ribs 12 that are coupled together andthat may be tilted or inclined relative to each other or that may beperpendicular to each other for forming a number of intersecting orjoint portions 13, one or more deck tile members 40 to be supported andsecured on top of the base support member 10 and to be arranged tovarious shapes or patterns, one or more side members 60 to be arrangedand attached or secured to the side portions of the base support member10, and one or more corner members 70 to be arranged and attached to thecorner areas or portions of the base support member 10 and secured tothe base support member 10 and/or the side members 60 respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-6, the base support member 10 includes anumber of drain passages 14 formed through one or more of the ribs 11,12 for water draining purposes, and includes one or more positioningholes 15 formed in one or more of the joint portions 13 of the basesupport member 10 for positioning or anchoring the deck tile members 40to the base support member 10, and includes one or more extensions orstuds 16 laterally and outwardly extended therefrom and each having anorifice 17 formed therein, such as formed in two of the side portions ofthe base support member 10 for attaching or securing to the other basesupport members 10, and includes one or more pins 18 extended downwardlytherefrom for engaging with the orifices 17 of the studs 16 and forcoupling or securing two or more of the base support members 10 together(FIG. 12).

The base support member 10 further includes one or more barrels 20attached or secured to one or more of the joint portions 13 of the basesupport member 10, the barrels 20 each include a hub 21 extendedupwardly from a bottom wall 22 and spaced from the barrel 20 for formingan annular space 23 between the barrel 20 and the hub 21 and for forminga bore 24 in the hub 21, and each include a diameter-reduced or narrowerneck portion 25 formed in the upper portion of the respective hub 21 forforming an annular or peripheral shoulder 26 in the middle portion ofthe respective hub 21, and each include a tilted or inclined peripheralsurface 27 formed in the upper portion of the respective hub 21, andeach include one or more (such as two) slots 28 (FIG. 4) formed in therespective hub 21 for forming one or more spring blades 29 in each ofthe respective hubs 21.

The deck tile members 40 each include one or more pins 41 extendeddownwardly therefrom for engaging with the positioning holes 15 of thebase support member 10 (FIGS. 6-8) and for anchoring or positioning thedeck tile members 40 to the base support member 10, and each include oneor more stems 42 also extended downwardly therefrom for engaging withthe bores 24 of the respective hubs 21 and for coupling or securing thedeck tile members 40 to the base support member 10, and the stems 42each include an enlarged head 43 for being forced to engage with thetilted or inclined peripheral surface 27 of the hub 21, and to engagethrough the narrower neck portion 25 of the hub 21 and for engaging withthe peripheral shoulder 26 of the hub 21 and thus for easily and quicklyand solidly securing or anchoring the deck tile members 40 to the basesupport member 10.

The formation or the provision of the tilted or inclined peripheralsurface 27 and/or the slots 28 and/or the spring blades 29 of the hub 21allows the enlarged head 43 of the stem 42 to be easily and quicklyengaged through the narrower neck portion 25 of the hub 21 and to beeasily and quickly engaged with the peripheral shoulder 26 of the hub 21without additional fasteners and/or tools. The formation or theprovision of the annular space 23 between the barrel 20 and the hub 21allows the spring blades 29 of the hub 21 to be suitably tilted orinclined outwardly. It is preferable, but not necessarily that the decktile members 40 each include one or more fins 44 extended outwardly fromthe stem 42 of the deck tile members 40 for engaging with the slots 28of the respective hubs 21 after the enlarged head 43 of the stem 42 hasbeen engaged through the narrower neck portion 25 of the hub 21, and forpositioning the spring blades 29 of the hub 21.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 6-8, and 12, the deck tile members 40 each furtherinclude one or more notches or depressions 45 formed therein forincreasing the resilience of the deck tile members 40 and for allowingthe deck tile members 40 to be slightly bent or deformed and thus forallowing the deck tile members 40 to be suitably pried and separated ordisengaged from the base support member 10 by a prying tool 80 (FIG.12). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, after two or more of the base supportmembers 10 have been coupled or secured together, the deck tile members40 on the respective base support members 10 may be arranged indifferent directions from each other for forming various kinds of shapesor patterns. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 18-20, the deck tilemembers 40 may be formed into the other shapes or contours, such as thetrapezoidal shape 401, the triangular shape 402, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1, and 9-11, the side members 60 each may include oneor more protrusions 61 laterally and outwardly extended from the backportion thereof and each having a peg 62 extended upwardly from therespective protrusion 61 for engaging with the orifices 17 of the studs16 of the base support members 10 and/or for engaging with thepositioning holes 15 of the base support member 10 (FIG. 9) and thus foranchoring or positioning the side members 60 to the base support member10, and each side member 60 may include an ear 63 laterally andoutwardly extended from one side portion thereof and each having a pin64 extended upwardly from the respective ear 63 for engaging with thecavities 65 of the other side members 60 (FIG. 10) and for coupling twoor more side members 60 together.

The corner members 70 each also include a flap 71 laterally andoutwardly extended from one side portion thereof and each having a shank72 extended upwardly from the respective flap 71 for engaging with thecavities 65 of the other side members 60 (FIG. 11) and for coupling thecorner members 70 to the side members 60, and each may include anaperture 73 formed therein (FIG. 1) for receiving or engaging with thepin 64 of the ear 63 of the side members 60 and for coupling or securingthe corner members 70 to the side members 60 and thus to the deck tilemembers 40, and thus for forming the indoor/outdoor interlocking decktile device as shown in FIG. 2. It is to be noted that the drainpassages 14 of the base support members 10 are preferably arranged orlocated between the deck tile members 40 for water draining purposes.The deck tile members 40 each may include one or more grooves 46 and oneor more beams 47 formed in the upper portion thereof for anti-slippingpurposes.

As shown in FIGS. 13-15, some of the deck tile members 40 each mayfurther include one or more notches 48 formed therein for receiving orengaging with the other corner members 50, and each include one or moreopenings 49 formed therein and communicating with the notches 48 of thedeck tile members 40, and the corner members 50 each include one or moreprojections or latches 51 extended downwardly therefrom for engagingwith the openings 49 of the deck tile members 40 and for securing thecorner members 50 to the deck tile members 40. The deck tile members 40each further include a channel 52 formed therein and communicating witheach of the notches 48 of the deck tile members 40 (FIGS. 14, 15), andthe corner members 50 each include one or more compartments 53 formedtherein for aligning or communicating with the channel 52 of the decktile members 40 and for water draining purposes.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 16, the deck tile members 403 and thecorner members 501 may be formed into the other shapes or contours, suchas the arrow-head shaped structure or the like for such as decorativepurposes. Further alternatively, as shown in FIG. 17, the deck tilemembers 403 and the base support members 10 may also be formed into theother shapes or contours, such as the tilted or inclined orcubical-shaped structure or the like for such as decorative purposes.

Accordingly, the indoor/outdoor interlocking deck tile device inaccordance with the present invention includes a number of deck tilemembers that may be easily and quickly assembled together or secured tothe base support member to form various kinds of shapes or patternswithout additional fasteners and tools.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure hasbeen made by way of example only and that numerous changes in thedetailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

1. A deck tile device comprising: a base support member including atleast one barrel having a hub extended upwardly from a bottom wall andspaced from said at least one barrel for forming an annular spacebetween said at least one barrel and said hub and for forming a bore insaid hub, and including at least one slot formed in said hub for formingat least one spring blade in said hub, and at least one deck tile memberincluding at least one stem extended therefrom for engaging with saidbore of said hub and for coupling said at least one deck tile member tosaid base support member, and said at least one stem including anenlarged head for engaging with said hub and for securing said at leastone deck tile member to said base support member.
 2. The deck tiledevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one deck tile memberincludes at least one fin extended from said at least one stem of saidat least one deck tile member for engaging with said at least one slotof said hub and for positioning said at least one spring blade of saidhub.
 3. The deck tile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said atleast one barrel includes a narrower neck portion formed in said hub forforming a peripheral shoulder in said hub and for engaging with saidenlarged head of said at least one stem and for anchoring said at leastone deck tile member to said base support member.
 4. The deck tiledevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hub includes an inclinedperipheral surface formed in an upper portion of said hub for engagingwith said enlarged head of said at least one stem.
 5. The deck tiledevice as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one side memberfor securing to said base support member.
 6. The deck tile device asclaimed in claim 5, wherein said at least one side member includes atleast one protrusion extended therefrom and having a peg extended fromsaid at least one protrusion for engaging with said base support memberand for anchoring said at least one side member to said base supportmember.
 7. The deck tile device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said basesupport member includes at least one positioning hole formed therein forengaging with said at least one protrusion of said at least one sidemember.
 8. The deck tile device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said atleast one side member includes an ear extended from one side portionthereof and having a pin extended from said ear for engaging with asecond side member and for coupling said at least one side member andsaid second side member together.
 9. The deck tile device as claimed inclaim 8 further comprising at least one corner member for engaging withsaid pin of said at least one side member and for securing to said atleast one side member.
 10. The deck tile device as claimed in claim 9,wherein said at least one corner member includes a flap extended fromone side portion thereof and having a shank extended from said flap forengaging with said at least one side member and for securing to said atleast one side member.
 11. The deck tile device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said base support member includes at least one pin extendedtherefrom for engaging with a second base support member and forcoupling said base support member and said second base support membertogether.
 12. The deck tile device as claimed in claim 11, wherein saidsecond base support member includes at least one stud extended therefromand having an orifice formed in said at least one stud for engaging withsaid at least one pin of said base support member.
 13. The deck tiledevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base support member includesa plurality of longitudinal ribs and a plurality of lateral ribs coupledtogether for forming a plurality of joint portions, said at least onebarrel is attached to one of said joint portions of said base supportmember.
 14. The deck tile device as claimed in claim 13, wherein saidbase support member includes at least one passage formed in one of saidlongitudinal ribs.
 15. The deck tile device as claimed in claim 13,wherein said base support member includes at least one passage formed inone of said lateral ribs.
 16. The deck tile device as claimed in claim1, wherein said at least one deck tile member includes a plurality ofgrooves and a plurality of beams formed therein for anti-slippingpurposes.